Societies and Academies

Abstract

PARIS. Academy of Sciences, August 18.—M. Guillaume Bigourdan in the chair. Notice of the death of J. B. de Toni, Correspondant in the section of botany.—F. E. Fournier: Remarks on the interpretations to be given in future to the three special signals defined in the author's note on safety manoeuvres for steamships passing each other in fog, published in the Comptes rendus, August 4.—S. Winogradsky: The microscopic study of the soil. A detailed description of the technique adopted for the direct observation of the soil bacteria, together with a short account of the results obtained.—E. Mathias: The noise of the lightning flash. The theory is propounded that the electrical discharge produces endothermic compounds of oxygen and nitrogen of the type O4, N4, O6, N6 and that the noise of the flash is produced by the explosive decomposition of these substances.” According to this theory the flash and noise are not produced simultaneously. No experimental evidence in support of the theory is given.—Charles Nicolle: Contribution to the knowledge of obscure infections. Examples drawn from the experimental study of exanthematic typhus. The term infection inapparentes is given to a type of acute septicaemic infection, existing exceptionally in the guinea-pig and frequently in the rat. There is no rise of temperature, and the existence of the disease can only be recognised by inoculation into other animals: the condition is quite distinct from what has been termed latent infection.—H. Mineur: The analytical theory of continued finite groups.—M. Paschoud: The problem of uniform regime in a fine tube the section of which is an isosceles right-angled triangle.—Carl A. Garabedian: Four methods for solving the problem of the rectangular beam.— Antonio Cabreira: The determination of geographical latitude, any three altitudes and the declination of the star being known.—Ernest Esclangon: The total eclipse of the moon of August 14, observed at the Strasbourg Observatory.—L. Dunoyer and P. Toulon: Some electro-mechanical applications of arc relays with external sheath.—Carl Benedicks: Method for the determination of the density of iron and of other refractory metals in the liquid state: an extension of the hydrostatic method of Dulong and Petit. The density of liquid iron at 15400 C. was found to be 6-92 ±-07.—C. Gutton and G. Laville: Electro-metric measurements of very small alternating potential differences.—R. Bureau and A. Viant: Meteorological conditions and the appearance of certain atmospheric disturbances in receiving apparatus of wireless telegraphy. Atmospherics are always connected with invasions of polar air and are removed by the arrival of a warm front.—Andre-Graire: The reversibility of the reactions of sulphuric acid formation in leaden chambers. Evidence of the reduction of sulphuric acid to sulphur dioxide by nitric oxide, reversing the ordinary reaction forming sulphuric acid in the leaden chamber.—Mme. Pauline Ramart: Molecular transpositions. Identification of the products of dehydration of 1.1.3-triphenyl-2.2-dimethyl-i-propanol.—H. Gault and B. C. Mukerji: The formation of hydrocellulose.—G. Vavon and A. Couderc: The isomerism of menthol and neomenthol. The addition of hydrogen to menthone, in the presence of platinum black, gives a mixture of stereoisomers in which neomenthol (cis) predominates over ordinary menthol (trans).—R. Fosse, Ph. Hagene, and R. Dubois: Researches on a new method of quantitative analysis of cyanamide in its calcium compound.—P. Nottin: The estimation of maltose in the presence of other reducing sugars by means of Barfoed's solution.—Alfred Schoep: Sklodowskite, a new radioactive mineral. This was found in the Belgian Congo, in a ]ayer containing several uranium minerals. Its composition is MgO. 2UO3.2SiO2.yH2O and it has tellurium, nickel and alkalies as impurities.—R. Verneau: Recent prehistoric discoveries in Indo-China. These deposits were found in caves in the Bac-Son limestone massif, and have furnished several thousands of stone implements.—L. Blaringhem: The degenerescence of flax.—L. Emberger: Contribution to the study of the formation of plasts in plants.—G. Ramon: The properties of diphtheric anatoxine. The ana-toxine, the preparation of which was described in an earlier communication, retains its immunising properties for long periods (twelve months) if kept in an ice box (30 to 40 C). Keeping does not develop any toxicity, and the properties are unchanged after heating to 65°-70° C. for one hour.—Simionesco and Andre Lancien: The influence of the cinnamic radicle on the stimulation of the haematopoietic organs.